Regular exercise benefits all muscles, including skeletal and heart muscle. The body’s systems work together to bring oxygenated blood to working muscles, resulting in improved strength, a leaner body, and better overall health. Warm-up and cool-down are important to prevent strain injuries. Weight-bearing exercise contributes to bone density and prevents obesity.
All muscles in the body, including those of the skeletal system and heart muscle, can benefit from regular exercise. Various involuntary systems and processes combine their effort to bring oxygenated blood to working muscles. The result can be improved strength, a leaner body, and better overall health.
There are three types of muscle, including skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Both skeletal muscles, which aid in locomotion and cardiac posture, benefit from regular activity. Hypertrophy is an increase in skeletal muscle size, one of the most obvious effects of exercise on the muscular system, especially strength or strength training. Smooth muscle, such as the stomach and intestines, is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and is not affected.
The muscular, cardiopulmonary, and nervous systems of the body respond to the increased demand for oxygenated blood from the muscles. This is diverted from non-vital organs to increase energy within the muscles. Byproducts of increased activity, such as lactic acid, hydrogen ions, and carbon dioxide, stimulate the respiratory system to increase respiration for better oxygen exchange.
The effects of exercise on the muscular system also appear in the heart muscle. A strong heart can pump more blood with each beat, carrying nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body. The pulse rate of a person who exercises regularly will be slower than most people, because the heart does not need to pump as hard to move the same amount of blood. Consistent aerobic exercise that uses all major muscle groups, enough to cause an obvious increase in respiration, is best for continued heart health.
Two interesting effects of exercise on the muscular system are decreased inhibitory neural feedback and synchronous firing. The first process means that the nervous system allows the muscle to work longer and harder than it would if the muscle were not trained, where it could be injured. Synchronous activation allows more muscle fibers to work in tandem, giving the muscle an enhanced ability to handle increased activity and perform at a higher level. The result is a measurable strength gain, particularly in women’s and adolescent muscles. Additionally, strength training with weights and resistance bands can reverse the muscle decline that comes with aging.
Warming up and cooling down can be vitally important for a proper workout. This can prevent the adverse effects of exercise on the muscular system, such as strain injuries as a result of lack of proper preparation. Muscles need adequate blood and oxygen flow to begin vigorous activity. Stretching after your workout keeps them from getting tight and also keeps them flexible long after your workout is over.
Weight-bearing exercise also contributes to bone density, a major concern, especially for women, who are more prone to osteoporosis. The tension in the muscles improves strength and balance, which when combined with increased bone density makes injuries from falls less likely. Strong, conditioned muscles at rest burn more calories than weak muscles. Regular exercise also helps prevent obesity, a major cause of health problems at any age.
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